Review

Things You Might Have Missed 2015: Misþyrming – Söngvar elds og óreiðu

Things You Might Have Missed 2015: Misþyrming – Söngvar elds og óreiðu

By El Cuervo on December 9, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Icelandic Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Black Metal, 13 comments

“There aren’t many contexts wherein ‘Icelandic’ forms part of a natural phrase to an outsider such as myself. If I think ‘American…’ I complete the phrase with ‘Horror Story,’ ‘Hustle’ or ‘Heartbeat,’ among numerous other affiliated terms. There are but two completions which spring to mind after ‘Icelandic’ for me: ‘beer’ and ‘metal.’ I therefore understandably privilege the overachieving country and am here to impart on you the knowledge of yet more exemplary cultural output.” Everybody move to Iceland and drink lots of beer, everybody move to Iceland right now!

Dodsferd – Wastes of Life Review

Dodsferd – Wastes of Life Review

By Madam X on December 7, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Moribund Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 32 comments

“Wastes of Life hit me at my most unprepared. Billed as “unapologetically defiant and shockingly melodic” including a statement from Wrath to the effect of “My new album is one of my most soul-destroying albums. It was written under feelings of frustration and disgust.” my expectations were high.” You know, there just aren’t enough soul-destroying albums out there these days.

Caligula’s Horse – Bloom [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

Caligula’s Horse – Bloom [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Angry Metal Guy on December 4, 2015 in 2015, Australian Metal, InsideOut, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Progressive Metal, 37 comments

“Caligula’s Horse is one of those bands I managed to get out in front of because of my Angry Metal Father-in-Law. Turns out that a guy who owns every cool record since 1975 is still on the hunt for great music—and the more obscure the better—so he has his ear to the ground in the progressive metal scene in a way I could hardly imagine.” Father-in-Law knows best.

Sunn O))) – Kannon Review

Sunn O))) – Kannon Review

By Roquentin on December 4, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, Reviews, Southern Lord, Doom Metal, Drone, Experimental Metal, 61 comments

“The music of American drone metal duo Sunn O))), even though structurally simplistic, is anything but easy to consume. The richness of their sound still pours through layered subtleties that require attentive listening lest they be drowned out by the incisively crumbling riffs.” It’s all about that riff, that riff, that riff.

Monolithe – Epsilon Aurigae Review

Monolithe – Epsilon Aurigae Review

By El Cuervo on December 2, 2015 in 2015, Debemur Morti, Doom Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“Having finally stepped out from the shadow of Roman numerals and single-track full-length albums, the French Monolithe has returned with their fifth LP, Epsilon Aurigae. I considered Monolithe IV a slight regression from the monumental Monolithe III, and it seems the decision taken to step away from the established formula (which had already been more-or-less perfected by III) was a smart one.” Attach the Rock of Triumph again!

Rex Shachath – Revocation of the Blood Elect EP Review

Rex Shachath – Revocation of the Blood Elect EP Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on December 1, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Great Dane Records, Reviews, Death Metal, 8 comments

“I like my death metal like the Swedes like their herrings: putrefied to the point of being potentially hazardous to consumers. Come to think of it, that’s also how the Swedes like their death metal. No wonder I’ve been enjoying the waves of throwback Swedeath that have splashed across my eardrums with remarkable frequency since Bloodbath’s debut re-popularized the Stockholm sound over ten years ago. But even the pungent flavor of semi-rotten fish becomes bland and unsatisfying when consumed in bulk, and so it is with retro death metal.” When is too much really too much?

Thor – Metal Avenger Review

Thor – Metal Avenger Review

By Steel Druhm on November 30, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Deadline Music, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reviews, 54 comments

“Whether you know it or not, Jon Mikl Thor is a living legend. His bizarre 40 year journey through the entertainment wood chipper has taken him to the disparate worlds of bodybuilding, live quasi-porn theater, proto-heavy metal and Grade-Z horror films. Through it all and come what may, the amiable Canadian Juggernaut just keeps smiling and flexing away, forever awaiting his big break.” The hammer will fall on all those who deny Thor’s trveness.

Kvltist – Catechesis Review

Kvltist – Catechesis Review

By Grymm on November 30, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, German Metal, Reviews, World Terror Committee, Black Metal, 8 comments

Ladies and germs, we have come to that time of year where we prepare for the holidays. Trees are cut down and decorated garishly, propped up in living rooms for approximately one month before being tossed aside or used as kindling in your fiery pits of Hades. But us writers? We’re putting together our lists, checking them twice, and solidifying them for all to see. Does German black metal duo Kvltist have the chops to usurp my solidified year-end collection of subjective metal importance with their debut, Catechesis?” Grymm has a list and he’s checking it thrice.